Feed-through socket



United States Patent REED-THROUGH SOCKET John B. Vilmerding, Moorestown, NJ., assignor to Ingersoll-Rand Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Ih'led Aug. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 834,970

10 Claims. (CI. 81-53) This invention relates in general to rotary tools, and more particularly to the attachments used for such tools.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved type of self aligning feed-through socket for a rotary tool.

The advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings showing forms of sockets constructed in accordance with the practice of the invention, in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a socket showing a screw in centralized position relative to the bore of the socket,

Fig. 2 is a front end view of the socket shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the socket showing a nut threaded on the screw,

Fig. 4 is a front end view of the socket shown in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the socket taken along the line 5--5 of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows, showing another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a front end view of the portion of the socket shown in Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the socket taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 8 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing a third embodiment of the socket, and

Fig. 8 is a front end view of the portion of the socket of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, 20 designates a rotatable socket for threading nuts on screws, having a suitably formed rear end 22 for connection to a rotary tool such as a screw driver (not shown). The socket 20 has a longitudinal chamber in the form of a cylindrical bore 24 of a diameter to permit a hexagonal nut 26 to slide longitudinally therethrough.

In order that the nut 26 be rotated by the socket 20, elongated pins 28, preferably three for a hexagonal nut, are positioned in an equilateral triangular pattern as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and such that each pin projects sideways in the bore 24 to engage the nut 26. This is achieved by drilling the holes 30 longitudinally through the socket 20, parallel to the axis of the bore 24, and positioned so that each hole 30 opens laterally into the bore 24. When the pins 28 are inserted in the holes 30 a portion of each pin will project in the bore 24 to engage the nut 26 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Each pin 28 ice the nut and the screw easily, and accordingly, means at the forward end of the socket 20 automatically hold the screw 34, to which the nut 26 is to be fastened, in axial alignment with the nut 26 when the socket is positioned over the screw 34. This holding means includes a plurality of centralizing members 36, in this instance three, mounted in a triangular pattern as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, on transverse pivots 38 in slots 40 forwardly in the socket 20. Each centralizing member 36 is formed camlike so that when the member 36 is rocked in one direction, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the ends 42 will project into the bore 24 and cooperate to engage the screw 34 releasably in axial alignment with the nut 26.

Members 36 are turned in the other direction by the nut 26, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. When the nut 26 passes'through the forward end portion of the bore 24, and after the nut 26 is threaded onto the screw 34 so that there is no longer necessity of holding the screw 34 centralized relative to the bore 24 and the nut 26 by members 36, the nut 26 engages the ends 42 of the members 36. This causes the members 36 to turn in the other direction to disengage members 36 from the screw 34 permitting the nut 26 to pass freely in the forward end of the bore 24.

It is to be noted that the pivotal movement of the members 36 to engage the screw 34 can be achieved by centrifugal force or by gravity, depending on the position of the socket. When the socket is held in a vertical position pointing down, the members 36 will pivot outwardly, whether the socket rotates or not, because of the eccentric location of the center of gravity of the members 36. When, however, the socket is held in another position, such as in a vertical position pointing up, the members will pivot outwardly only when centrifugal force throws them out.

To limit turning of the members 36 in both directions, a pin 44 is provided to stop the members 36 in proper position relative to the nut 26 when the nut 26 passes through the forward end portion of the bore 24, and relative to the screw when aligned with the nut 26.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The bore 46 of the socket is of hexagonal form to rotate the nut 26 and to slidably guide the nut 26 forwardly in the bore 24. The arrangement to align the screw 34 with the nut 26 includes three passages 48 positioned in a pattern as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, each passage 48 drilled transversely inclined at the same angle in the forward end of the socket. The passages 48 are drilled such that the lower end portion of each passage 48 crosses the bore 46 to form inclined peripheral apertures 50 in a triangular pattern in the forward end of the bore 46. In each passage 48 is disposed a ball 52 of substantially the bore diameter, and when the ball 52 is at the aperture 50 the ball 52 will project into the bore 46 to releasably hold the screw 34 in alignment with the nut 26.

When the socket is held vertically pointing up, as shown in Fig. 5, the balls, by gravity, drop to the lower end portions of the passages 48, and, will project into the bore 46 at the lower end of the apertures 50. When the screw 34 is threaded into the bore 46 and held in alignment with the nut 26 by the balls 52, the nut is rotated by the socket to be fastened to the screw 34. After the nut 26 is fastened to the screw 34, the nut 26, being moved towards the forward end of the bore 24 by the screw 34, engages the balls 52 and forces them up out of the aperture 50 and into the upper end portion of the passage 48. The screw 34 is in this manner disengaged from the balls 52 and out of the path of the nut 26 moving forward.

When the socket is pointed up, and the direction of inclination of the passages 48 is the same as the direction of rotation of the socket to fasten the nut 26 to the screw 34, the balls 52 will stay in the lower end of passages 48 whether the socket rotates or not, until actuated by the nut 26.

It is to be noted that the balls 52 can be moved into engagement with the screw 34 by inertia. This is useful when the socket is held in another position relative to that described in connection with Figs. and 6. When the socket is held in a vertical position with the forward end of the socket facing downwardly, Fig. 5 to be held upside down, the balls 52, by gravity, will be positioned at the lower end of the passages 48 adjacent the forward end of the socket. When the socket is rotated contrary to the direction of inclination of the passages 43, centrifugal force will cause the balls to move away from the lower end to the upper end of the passages 48. In this manner, at the initial rotation of the socket, the balls will be moved by inertia to the upper end of the passages where the apertures 50 are located. The balls 52 are then in a position to project inwardly of the bore 46 and to engage the screw 34. After the nut 26 is fastened to the screw 34 the nut 26, being moved by the screw 34 towards the forward end of the bore 46, will force the balls 52 against centrifugal force downwardly past the forward end of the aperture 50 and out of engagement with the screw 34. The nut 26 can then be freely moved through the forward end of the bore 46.

It is to be noted that the direction of inclination of the passages is to be chosen according to the thread of the screw and thus according to the direction of rotation of the socket when the balls 52 are to be actuated by centrifugal force into engaging relationship with the screw 34.

Still another embodiment of this invention is shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The socket is shown having a hexagonal bore 54 for the nut 26, and three passages 56 positioned transversely inclined in a triangular pattern as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the direction and angle of inclination of each passage 56 being the same. Each passage 56 has a narrow portion 58 dividing the passage into two chambers, 60 and 62, the chamber 60 for housing a spring 64, and the chamber '62 for housing a ball 66. Each passage 56 is positioned such that a portion of each chamber 62 opens into the bore 54 to form inclined peripheral apertures at the forward end portion of the bore 54. When the balls 66 are at the apertures, they project into the bore 54 to centralize the screw (not shown). The balls 66 are held at the apertures by the spring 64'connectedto the balls 66 by a connecting pin :68'and a disk 79. As shown in Fig. 7 the spring .64 is tensioned just enough to hold the balls 66 in position to engage the screw.

When the screw is inserted in the socket and in engagement with the balls 66, the nut 26 is threaded on the screw by rotation of the socket. The nut 26 advances on the screw forwardly in the bore 54. As the nut 26 threads onto the screw it will engage the balls 66 pushing them out of engagement with the screw and away The springs 64 are tensioned, and, when from the bore. the nut 26 passes the apertures, the tensioned springs 64 retract the balls 66 to their initial position.

With the arrangement described in connection with the embodiment shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the socket can be used in any position without affecting the proper functioningof the balls 66 with respect to the positioning thereof relative to the screw (not shown) and .to the nut 26.

It should be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative only, and that various changes and modifications may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I, claim:

1. A rotatable socket for threading a nut on a screw, said socket having an open forward'end and a longitudinal chamber formed to engage the nut being slidable longitudinally against rotation relative to said chamber and to guide said nut through said chamber, and means projecting sufliciently inwardly of said chamber to engage and align the screw centrally with respect to the nut, said means being actuatable by movement of the nut after said nut is secured on said screw to release said screw engaging means.

2. A rotatable socket for securing a nut on a screw, said socket having an open forward end and a longitudinal bore leading to such forward end to receive an end portion of said screw, said bore having means to rotate the nut and to guide the nut slidably through said bore for securing said not on said screw, and means at the forward end portion of said socket extending inwardly of the socket sufiiciently to centralize the screw relative to said nut and actuatable by said nut to release said screw after said nut is secured on said screw, to permit the nut to move past said means and through the forward end portion of said bore.

3. The device claimed in claim 2 in which the first said means comprises at least one passage in the socket positioned such that a portion of said passage opens into said bore to form at least one internal slot along substantially the length of said bore, and an element disposed in said passage to project through said slot and into said bore.

4. The device claimed in claim 2 in which the'last said means comprises a plurality of members pivotably connected to the forward end portion of said socket, each of said members having a portion projecting into said socket when said members are turned in one direction, said members actuatable by said nut to pivot in another direction when said nut advances into the forward end portion of said socket.

5. A rotatable socket for threading a nut to a screw having an'open forward end and a longitudinal bore leading to such forward end to receive an end portion of said screw, means projecting inwardly of said bore to rotate said nut and to guide said nut through said bore, a plurality of members pivotably connected to the forward end portion of said socket, said members pivotable in one direction when said socket is rotating, each of said members having a portion projecting into said socket when said members are pivoted in one direction to cooperatively engage and releasably hold said screw coaxially relative to said nut, said members actuatable by said nut to pivot in'the other direction when said nut engages said portion of each of the members to disengage said portion of each of the members from said screw to permit said nut to move through the forward end portion of said socket.

6. A rotatable socket for threading a nut to a screw having an opening forward end and a longitudinal bore leading to such forward end to receive a portion of said screw, means projecting into said bore adapted to rotate said nut and to guide said nut through said bore,- a plurality of members pivotably connected to the forward end portion of said socket adapted to pivot in one direction when said socket is rotated, each of said members having a portion projecting into said socketwhen said members are pivoted in said one direction to cooperatively engage and releasably hold said screw coaxially relative to said nut, said members actuatable by said nut to pivot in the other direction when saidnut engages said portion of each of the members to disengage said portion of each of the members from said screw to permit said nut to move past said members and through the forward end portion of said socket.

7. A rotatable socket for threading a nut to a screw having an open forward end and a longitudinal bore leading to such forward end to receive a portion of said screw, said bore adapted to engage and hold said nut longitudinally slidable against rotation relative to said bore to guide said nut through said bore, a plurality of passages in the forward end portion of said socket positioned such that a portion of each of said passages opens into said bore to form internal peripheral apertures in said socket, a member slidably disposed in each of said passages projecting into said socket when said member is at said aperture, means to yieldably hold said members at the apertures when the socket is rotating to releasably engage said screw to align said screw with said nut, said members actuated to be moved in one direction away from said apertures by said nut to be disengaged from said screw when said nut moves through the forward end portion of said bore.

8. The device claimed in claim 7 in which said means comprises a spring connected at its one end to said member and at its other end to an end portion of said passage, said spring being positioned such to resiliently hold said member at the aperture for engagement with said screw when said spring is substantially untensioned.

9. A rotatable socket for threading a nut to a screw having an open forward end and a longitudinal bore leading to such forward end to receive an end portion of said screw, said bore being adapted to rotate said nut and to guide the nut slidably through said bore for threading said nut to said screw, a plurality of passages in the forward end portion of said socket positioned transverse relative to the longitudinal axis of said socket and having its forward end adjacent the forward end of said socket, a portion of each of said passages opening into said bore to form internal peripheral apertures in said socket, a member slidably disposed in each of said passages projecting into said socket when said member is at said aperture to releasably engage said screw to align said screw with said nut, each of said passages being positioned such that the aperture is located at the rearward end portion of said passage when said socket is held substantially vertical with its forward end facing upwardly, said members actuatable in a forward direction relative to the forward end of the socket when said nut moves through the forward end portion of said bore to disengage said members from said screw.

10. A rotatable socket for threading a nut to a screw having an open forward end and a longitudinal bore leading to such forward end to receive an end portion of sad screw, said bore being adapted to rotate said nut and to guide the nut slidably through the bore for threading the nut to said screw, a plurality of passages in the forward end portion of said socket positioned transverse relative to the longitudinal axis of the socket and having its forward end adjacent the forward end of said socket, a portion of each of said passages opening into said bore to form internal peripheral apertures in said socket,

a member slidably disposed in each of said passages projecting into said socket when said member is at said aperture to releasably engage and centralize said screw with said nut, each of said passages being positioned such that the aperture is located at the rearward end portion of said passage when said socket is held substantially vertical with its forward end facing downwardly, said members to be releasably held at said apertures by rotation of said socket, said members actuatable to be moved in a forward direction relative to the forward end of said socket when said nut moves through the forward end portion of said bore to disengage said members from said screw.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 703,016 Tash June 24, 1902 847,596 MoMurtry Mar. 19, 1907 1,543,175 McCarthy June 23, 1925 1,711,694 Safiold May 7, 1929 2,848,916 Reynolds Aug. 26, 1958 2,876,668 Phillips Mar. 10, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 434,063 Great Britain Aug. 26, 1935 582,409 France Oct. 13, 1924 

